Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Ok - so admittedly this is outside of the Sloop, but I like to golf and this story is pretty interesting. Being a city dweller is great, but if you like to dable in the game of golf it's a big time suck.

Yes, there are some courses in relatively close proximity to us in the Sloop, but they aren't great.

So when we read that Tiger Woods was going to redesign the Jackson Park and South Shore public courses our ears perked up (via Chicago Tribune):

For decades, Chicago's golf impresarios have wondered if it would be possible to recast Jackson Park and the lakeside South Shore into a dazzling course that could host a premium PGA Tour event such as the BMW Championship.

Finally, the answer is yes.

As first reported by the Tribune, Woods has committed to be the lead designer. In a statement released by TGR Design, Woods said: "This project can create incredible possibilities for the community on the South Side. We want to design a course that everyone will enjoy."

And on Sunday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel will announce the formation of the Chicago Parks Golf Alliance (CPGA), a nonprofit charged with improving Chicago Park District courses and golf facilities, expanding youth golf programs and, most significantly, raising money to make the Jackson Park/South Shore project a reality.

The project comes with a price tag of about $30 million, not including the cost of building a tunnel at 67th Street to connect the courses and another under South Jeffrey. Chicago Park District Superintendent Michael Kelly said the goal is to have an 80/20 percent split of private and public money.

Also interesting is that President Obama reportedly lobbied Tiger for this project. It makes sense in some capacity as the new Obama Presidential Library will also be in Jackson Park and the president is an avid golfer.

Timing seems relatively loose, so we will see how this progresses.

This project does seem to have some serious potential. Despite the fact that both courses are run-down, they do occupy some amazing real estate - especially the South Shore course which hugs the Lake Michigan coast.

The second hole at the current South Shore course is actually a pretty great golf hole with the city's iconic skyline in the background.